akers



(No Modeli) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. E; AKBRS.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

No. 418,777. Patented Jan. 7, 1890.v l

ff A f N. PETERS, Pham-Limogmhar. washinpan. D. C.

3 sheets .sneet' 2.V 1

(No Mode1.)'

R. E. AKERS. SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

No. 418,777. Patented Jan. 7, 1890.

ism

N. PETERS. Pnuhrulhagnphqr. Wnhinqtun. D, C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

R. E. AKERS.- SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

Patented Jan. '7 189.0

.4 SSS Wiljasse-s N. PETERS. FhmcrLimngnplmr. Washington. n. C.

` y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ROBERT `EDWIN AKERS, OF LEHIGH, INDIAN TERRITORY.

SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,777, dated January '7, 1890.

Application iiled .Tune 15, 1889. Serial No. 314,330. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT EDWIN AKERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lehigh, Choctaw Nation,Indian Territory, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suspension-Bridges, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to an improvement in suspension-bridges; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the `-claims.,

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a. bridge embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe same, taken on the line Je of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a'bottom plan View. On opposite sides of the stream or chasm are erected rows of supporting-posts A, and on the upper ends of said posts are secured cross-plates B. Arranged in line with and at a suitable distance4 beyond the posts A are rows of posts C, the upper ends of which are E represents posts, which are arranged at av suitable distance beyond 'the posts C and con-4 stitute the anchor-posts. Crossbeams F are secured on the outer sides of the anchor-posts. H represents cables, which are preferably made of wires twisted together, are stretched over the plates B D and across a stream or chasm, and have their ends attached to eyebolts I, which are passed transversely thro ugh the anchor-posts and through the beams F.

L represents a series of stringers, which are arranged longitudinally and have their ends supported on the plates B. A series of crossbeams M are arranged transversely on the Stringer-s, and the thickness of the said crossbeams is increased as they near the center of the bridge, and decreased as they near the ends thereof, as shown. On the upper sides of the said beams M are supported flooringbeams N,` which are likewise arranged longitudinally and have their ends secured on the end beams D. Owing to the varying thicknesses of the cross-beams M, the flooringbeamsN are curved sufficiently to give the requisite crown or arc shape to the bridge. The

floor-boards O are secured on the beams N. It will be observed by reference to Figs. l and 2 that the stringers L are on the same plane with the cables, and that the iioorbeams N and said stringers L are secured together by bolts P, which pass through them distances from the center of the bridge, are cross-beams T, under which the cables Rare passed, the said cables being thereby crossed between the said beams, as shown in lFig..1, and the intersecting portions of the cables are caused to bear under the central beam M. Each of the cables R comprises in this instance two strands or smaller cables, and be tween them at suitable points are inserted twisting-bars K. A proper tension of the cables may now be secured by revolving the bars in either direction, and thus twisting the cables upon themselves, all as clearly shown in Fig. l.

U represents posts, which are erected on the banks of the stream at a distance beyond and inline with the standards, and on the said posts U and standardsl S are secured hand- 'rails V, which form the sides of the bridge.

WV represents cables or rods, which are secured to the posts A C or to the ends of the plates B D and are extended under the bridge and crossed between the posts O and A, between the latter and the beams T, and between the said beams, the function of the said rods or cables being to brace the bridge against lateral strain.

Before driving the posts A, C, and E suit- 'able ditches will be excavated in the banks of the stream, in which the said posts will be erected, and after the posts have been placed therein the ditches will be filled up. I prefer to use posts of bois darc, cedar, locust, or other durable wood.

Having thus described my invention', l claiml. The combination, in a bridge, of the. suse Vunder the stringers L, and at suitable regular roo pended cables R, the cross beams T, supported by the said cables, the latter being crossed midway between the said beams, the st-ringers resting on the cross -beams, the beams M, supported on the stringcrs, the central of said beams having its ends bearing on the intersecting parts of the cables, and the ooring supported on the beams M, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a suspension-bridge, of the posts A, the plates B, supported thereon, the stringere having their ends supported on the said plates, the cables H, anchored at opposite sides of the stream, passing over the plates B, and arranged parallel and in the same plane with the strin gers, the cross-beams M, arranged on the stringers, the floor-beams N, arranged longitudinally on the beams M, the cross-beams T, arranged under the stringers, and the cables R, spanning the stream and supporting the ends of the beams T, substantially as described.

The combination, in abridge, of the posts A, the plates B, the posts C,arranged beyond the posts A, the plates D, connecting the posts C, the anchor-posts E beyond the posts C, the cables stretched over the plates B and having their ends attached to the anchorposts, the cross-beams M, arranged on the cables, the stringers L under said cross-beams and having their ends supported on the plates B, the iioor-beams N, arranged on the beams M, the standards S, rising from the ends of plates B, the beams T, arranged transversely under the stringers under the centers of the bridge, and thecables R, attached to the anchor-posts, stretched over the stan dards S, and bent downward under the ends of the 5. In a bridge, the suspended cables R, the

cross-beams T, supported by the cables, the latter being crossed midway between thc beams, the stringers L, resting on the crossbeams, the beams M, resting on the stringers, the flooring supported on the beams M, and the cables ll, anchored on opposite sides of the stream and arranged parallel with the stringers under the beams M, and the cables XV, arranged horizontally under the bridge and extending diagonally and crossed between the cross-beams T, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y Y

G. In a bridge, the supporting-cables each consisting of a plurality of strands, a twisting-rod dividing the series and adapted to twist the cables for giving them proper tension, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in -presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT EDW'IN AKERS.

Witnesses:

W. HARDING, J. E. ADAMS. 

